Plenty of terabytes
Ampex Data Systems Provides DST Network-Attached Storage for USA Networks' Digital Content Management Facility
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2000--Ampex Data Systems Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ampex Corp. (Amex:AXC - news), Thursday announced that it is providing the USA Cable Network with 400 terabytes of network-attached video file storage for the cable channel's new digital content management facility.
The new centralized facility, which will initially serve content for both the USA Network and SCI FI Channel, is designed to replace traditional control rooms and analog tape machines with a multi-tier automated computer network optimized for storing, managing, and delivering broadcast content in completely digital format.
Conversion to digital server technology will allow USA Cable to store and stage content more efficiently and more automatically than traditional video robotic systems. It also provides scalability, allowing for easy expansion to support additional broadcast projects.
The Ampex video archive system will store the 400TB worth of video on 150GB DST cartridges representing the equivalent of tens of thousands of hours of content.
John Hennessy, Ampex Data System's director of video and broadcast marketing, noted, ``You need a true archive drive to protect your valuable media assets, and it's apparent that USA selected DST drives for their robustness and because they are field proven. In addition, since DST drives are designed to operate under 100% duty cycle, they can withstand the constant loading and unloading dictated by schedules required to support major cable channels such as USA Networks.''
Hennessy also explained that the Ampex air-lubricated tape guiding mechanism provides gentle tape handling to ensure many years of error free archiving and restoring. ``Our customers tell us they have great confidence that what is archived today will easily restore in the future,'' he added.
Perhaps most important, Hennessy said, was the fact that USA Networks is a beneficiary of the many of hours of testing and fine tuning that Ampex, Avalon and Grass Valley performed in their labs on Grass Valley Group's new Profile network-attached archive application. The network-attached archive provides any Profile video server access to any DST drive within the archive.
``We selected the Ampex video archive because it supports industry standard products from Grass Valley and Avalon while providing the performance and scalability to grow with our data needs,'' stated Dick Ross, USA Cable senior vice president of Network Operations. ``Success in the new broadcast environment will continue to mean superb content, but it will also demand performance, mixed-media, reliability, and the capacity to grow -- qualities that the Ampex archive delivers.''
Ampex Data Systems Product Line
Ideal for the archiving and retrieval of video and images in broadcast and video environments, Ampex DST automated cartridge libraries offer unlimited storage capacities combined with optimum speed, performance and reliability. A standalone DST 712 library can hold 116 50GB DST tape cartridges, putting a total storage capacity of up to 5.8 terabytes per library online in only 7.5 square feet of floor space.
By using the cartridge partitioning feature in the DD-2 tape format, the library storage capacity can appear as over 20,800 200MB logical volumes to the host server. The 50GB tape capacity also serves to increase the system's productivity. The system's scalability provides over 23TB utilizing a single transfer rail with four DST 712 cabinets. By stringing together multiple clusters almost unlimited capacity can be achieved. Additional drives can be added to dramatically increase I/O capability.
For more information, e-mail Ampex Data Systems at sales@ampexdata.com or call toll-free at 800/752-7590.
About USA Cable
USA Cable, a division of USA Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:USAI - news), consists of both the USA Network and the SCI FI Channel. USA Network, cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows and blockbuster theatrical films, is available in 77% of all U.S. homes.
SCI FI Channel is the future of cable and currently invades 61% of U.S. homes. Newly re-built for viewers with a sci-fi lifestyle, SCI FI features a continuous stream of cinematic hits, new and original series, and special events, as well as classic sci-fi, fantasy, and horror programming.
About Ampex Data Systems
Ampex Data Systems Corp. (www.ampexdata.com), with headquarters in Redwood City, is one of the world's leading providers of technologies for the acquisition, storage and processing of visual information. Ampex Data Systems designs and delivers extremely high-capacity, high-performance digital image storage solutions for large-scale corporate, government, network, entertainment and telecommunications applications.
Ampex Data Systems customers include such leading organizations as AT&T, the Federal Aviation Administration, Fox Television, HBO, Netcom and Prevue Networks. Ampex Data Systems Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ampex Corp.
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